Automatic nut-castellating machine.



Patented July 18, 1911 8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INYEN 70H TORS B. C. BOERNER.

AUTOMATIC NUT GASTBLLATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED HAB. 21, 1910.

B. G. BOERNER.

AUTOMATIC NUT GASTBLLATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IAR.21. 1910.

Patented July 18, 1911.

@SHEETS-SHEET 2.

.Enlll 111A -m 1 1 1 u 1 l IN 'EN TUR E. C. BOERNER.

AUTOMATIC NUT GASTELLATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR,21.1910.

Patented July 18,1911.

IN VENTO/' E. C. BOERNBR.

AUTOMATIG NUT GASTBLLATING MAGHINB.

APPLIOATIOI FILED IAB. 21, 1910.

998,229.l Pand July 18, 1911.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

V .s c.

l "Figfh E. c. BOERNR.

AUTOMATIC NUT OASTBLLATING MACHINE.

LYPLIOATIOB FILED ILL, 1910.

. o Il Patented July 18., 1911.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

INYENTUR ATT IM I t l l J| Il bril" .HL m 9 .f llllblllll Illlllllllllll llllllllllll lll'.

Wl TNESSES E. 0. BOBRNER.

AUTOIATIO BUT UASTELLATING MACHINE.

unicum: rmm 111.21; mo.

998,229, Patented AJuly 18, 1911.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

lu dit WTNESSES.' -e- [NYE/170i? i j L.

Mm Ms E; (2;y BDBBNER. ,Au'ronmlu'p UABTELLATIN'G ummm. '-'nngnjx'ol nu un. n, xls-.0. 998.7229, Patented July 18, 1911.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

EMILE C. BOENEB, OF IORT CHESTER, NEW YORK, .ASSIGNOB T RUSSELL, BURDSAIiL &,WABLD BOLT AND NUT CO., F PORT CHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 0F NEW Yonx. A

AUTOMATIC NUT-CASTELLATING MACHINE.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, Ennis AC. BOERNR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Port Chester, in the county of Testchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Nut-Castellating Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. l

This invention broadly deals with ma-` chines for cutting one or more slots in suitable portions of blanks for nuts, or the like, as in producing what is technically known as a' castellated nut; but inasmuch as certain noteworthy advantages characteristic of this invention prominently appear in its more intense aspect as an essentially' automat-ic machine for continuously receivii'iga su ply of nutblaiiks and for subsequently de ivering the same in the form of castellated nut-'blanks without requiring special mani ulation on the part of the attendant, it wili be conducive to clearness to disclose this invention by way of a specific description of such an embodiment thereof.

One object within the contemplation of this invention is to render commercially available an automatic machine ca able `of rapidly and with a high degree o l erfection reducing a' plurality of equispaed radialp slots in the top or crowned portion of nut-blanks.

Another object is to provide a machine of the-foregoing' character which is simple, durable, highly efiicient, and ca able of being constructedl at a reasonab e cost and requiring minimum eilort and skill on Athe part of the attendant.

Another object is to produce a machine having 'a rotating hollow spindle through which a train of hexagonal nut-blanks may be' fed and in turn successively clam ed with the crowned port-ion ex osed an in position to be contacted with y a rotatin milling cutter adapted to cut the severa radial grooves=in the end of such nut servin to convert the same into castellated nuts.

Lther objects will be in part set forth in the following description and in part obvious from the accompanyingdrawings exem- Speoication of Letters Patent.

Application ledAJIarch 21,

. terminating in aisuiteblec plifying` one ofthe many poible ,'embodi-,f

Patented July 18, 1911.

i910. sei-iai No. 550,617.

ments o f this invention, and in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views of which;

Figure 1 is a general view inside elevation, showing the external appearance and arrangement of parts as assembled in the machine with the collet-cluteh for the nutblanks appearing in longitudinal elevation. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view, showing in side elevation the circular slotting-cutter in position to operate on the nut-blanks. This view is substantially the same as4 the corresponding portion of Fig. 1, except in so far as certain details not appearing on Fig. 1 are shown. Fi 3V is a vertical section taken through t e longitudinal axis of the colletchuck which appears in longitudinal elevation in the foregoing two views.V

Fig. 4 is rear elevation of the assembly shown b end or side of the machine into which. the nuts are fed, i. e., op osite the front end or side at which the setting is'carri'ed out. Fig. 5 is an enlarged front elevation looking in a direction 'opposite from that shown in" Fig. 4 and illustrating, in enlarged detail,

the parts more immediately associated withv the slotting. mechanism. Fig. 6`is a. vertical section taken transverse to the longitudinal axis of the collet-chuck and showing certain parts in side elevation, which comprise the mechanism for interinittentl turnin the collet chuck through predy Fig. 1, looking toward the rear` dei-mine angles to locate the s acing of the radial slots in the castellate is a plan view in general assembly of the various elements and sub-combinations' which constitute this embodiment of thisl invention. Fig. 8 is a side elevation showing in detail the means for determining the limits of movement of the revolving cutter so that the saine ma beregulated as desired.

Continuing now b way of a more detailed description o 'the herein disclosed machine, turning eccasionall toV the draw-y ings, as indicated b y the re erence characters, it may be preliminarily stated that neral combi its more intense aspect the nation formingthis machine preferably comprises: (1) A rotatin hol) nutlltlmilrs nut-blank. Fig. 7'

through suoli hollow spindle, (3') ,a vibratory stop to precisely determine the extent to which each mit blank protrndes from the face of the chuck, (4) means for oper- 5 atinor the chuck to clamp the nut blanl: se

curey in such position during the shitting operations, (5) a suitable slot-ting cutter I'ireferably in the form of a rotating milling.)r cutter, means for periodically advancing said rotatingcutter against. the protruding portion of the nut blank to slot the same, (7) means for intermittently rotan ing the `spindle througli suitable angles, as for example GO or 180", in the making of a hexagonal castcllated' nut, and (8), means for discharging thenut when sutticiently formed. l'Vhile each the above enumerated major sub-combinations is preferably to be so embodied as to perform its above speci fied function alone at an appropriate in stant in the cycle of operativi of the whole machine or perhaps in certain cases perform dual functions, it 1s nererthcfy ss to he understood thatall of the appended claims art` not. limited to specifically include all of these elements, inasmuch as itis appt-t hended that one or more thereof may bc eliminated and their fui'action performed by either by other or equivalent mechanisms,

or even to a certain extent. by more or less .simple hand operations ou the part. of the attendant.

The automatic charla for correctly poxz tianz'ag the nut blanks daring he clotting 0 )mattone-In the preferred embodiment` of 40 rate-ly position the nut-blanks during the' tiis' invention, this mechanism assumes the form of a split or colletchuck combined with suitable devices for clasico the -same at appropriate intervals to rigid y and accuoperation of slott-ing or castcllating the same. By turning to Fig. B there will be seen in detail one ofthe many possible embodiments, which this invention may assumein this particular, and which construction has been found in practica to be dnrablc, serviceable and in general eminentljsatisfactory. In this preferred construction, the chuckin'r apparatus is revoluhly supported on thc hase-portion or body-casting 1 of the machinc by means of two sup ports or uprigh'ts 2 and 3. These supports terminate attheir upper ends in a iertured hub-like portions 4- and 5, prefera ly pro- 5 vided witi suitable bushings t. and 7 formto slot. or castellate. One of the primary functions of this cent-ral elongated hexagonally apertured member 8 is t0 form a feeding track for supplying the jaws of thc collet-cimeli with nutblanks. Telescoping the forward portion ot' this central member 8 is a` tubular shank 9, which is radially split at its forward extremity and flares out to form the contractingr or jaw portion l() o1 i the collet-chuck. This member may be termed the collet-chuck. Preferably, a number of hardened jaw-blocks 11 will be cured to the contracting portions 10 of the collet-cliuek, as by means of screws 12, and thus compensate for wear and enable the clamping or contact surfaces to be replaced in case they may have become unduly chipped or otherwise roughened. This chuck member is, like that of the correepondiucr part of an ordinary collet-chuck, capable of being advanced and retreated with respect to a chuck-closer for the purpose of clamping and releasing the nut'.- hlanks. The mechanism for autonuitically doing this will be described presently.

The chuck-closer consists of an elongated tubular member which telescopes the above` mentioned parts and terminates at its forward end in the chuck-closer 13, which pro vides an enlarged conical or tapering recess in its forward end adapted to receive the counterpart jaw portions l0, so that as such jaw portions are forced into this conical recess such jaw-portions 10 will be contracted to clamp the base-portions of thel nut-blanks, as will be well understood by those familiar with collet-chucks. The shank portion 14 of the chuck-closer telescopes or overrides the shank portion 9 of the collet-chuck and is exteriorly journaled in the bushing 6 supported by the hab 4 ot the standard 2. At its rear extremity, the chuck-closer has a portion 15 which telescopes directly on the hcxagonally apertured member 8 and is positively secured in position thereon by means of the cndsrrews '16. Exterior-ly, this portion 15 is journaled into `the bushing 7 mounted in the hub 5 oi the standard 3. From this it will be ierccived that the three main clements a ove described, i. e., the external chuck-closer, the i."termediate collet-chuck and the central blank-feeding tube, may all rotate as a unit in the standards` 2 and 3. To prevent axial or longitudinal displacement of the first and last-mentioned parts, a bushing 17 may be interposed between one end of the bushing 6 and an adjacent part of the chuck-closer. and ont-hc other side a bushing 18 may be interposed between the corresponding end of the bushing 6 and a Spanner nut 19, screw-threaded to the chuck-closer shank portion 14 and locked in vlaeo bythe companion lock-nut 20, as will e readily unlcrstood.

is .the vertice sivel t' It now remains to next-consideg` the means for :feeding the nut-blanks into the collet- ,chuck The automatic faut blank feedea-Tu'rnnow to Fi s.' 1, 3, 4 and 7, a hopper such 1, chute 21 rovides a channel 2x22; nda ted to contain tll'ie series of supernut blanks which are to be' succesfed into the machine. Preferably .the orward side of this channel 2Q is mrtlv closed by means of platos 23 and 9A, the adjacent edges of which are separated torpro- .vide the vertically elongated sight or space 25 through which the .operator mayvisuall y 15 l determine the condition of thev sup ly of nut-blanks. Thelower part of this cliute is .secured to the standard 3 by means of bolts 26, and preferably a. wear-resistir: b'ushing 27 removably secured to the chute y means o fscrews 28 constitutes a bottom-stoplin regist witlrthe adjacent part of theV exagonal y apertured member'8, so that the lowermost nut blankmay be radially pushed into this hexagonal aperture without inter-A` ference. A

I This' invent-ion furthermore proposes an automatic means for continuously and at properfintervals forcing the lower-most nutblank into the hexagonal borej of the ycentral 4llbngated feedmember 8, and to'that end 'rovides an intermittently acting' plunger 9 which is slidably mounted in a -correspondinglya ertured hublike portion BO-of t echute.- T is plunger is in coaxial registrylwlith theyhexagonal bore of the feedmember 8 so that during its'advance the ysis lowermost nut-blank which is opposite its forward'endwill4 be forced into the hex aglonal aperture of the member 8 and thus fil -such member with a train of nutblanks. Theblankswill be so placed in the hopper or chute 2,1 that their crowned portions will '.'face forwardly and 'their base-portions rearwardly. -The foremost. blank oflthistrain will befforced lpartlv throuvh the aperture in the end of'the collet-ohne and will have theextent to which its crowned end or portion will protrudedetermined by a suitable stop, and its base-portion will then be firmly clamped in place 'by the contractile operation of the collet-chuck preparatory to the be 'nnng castellating operation.

urning to 'Fi l and 7, it will be seen that the rear en 31-of the plunger 29 protrudes from the hub portion 30 and adJu'st- 'ably carries a pivot lock l32 of some suit- 'lever4 is provided with a hub V35 which,'by

means of a suitable pivot pin 86, ispivotall supported by the be ring block 37 which rs in turn bolted to the main-frame 0.x' bodycsting 1 of. the machine. This lever 34 also carries an extension or arm 88 which, at'its in place against displacement.

extremity carries the cam roller 39, whereby 4the cam 40 may oscillate the same at appropriate intervals and thus-produce a corresponding reciprocation of the lunger 3l with a. resultant intermittent feed) of the nut blanks at appropriate intervals. This cam 40 is secured to one end of a shaft 4l which is longitudinally mounted on the body casting by means of journal boxes 42 and 43. Mounted on an intermediate part ol this shaft is a gear 44 in mesh with a worm 45 which is mounted on thelower transverse shaft a6, 'lhisshaft 4G is secured to the body-castinv hyV means of journal boxes 4T and 4S, an its protruding end' carries` thc main driving pulley 49. From this it, will be perceived that when the main drive pulley 49 is rotated in the direction indicated'by the arrow placed thereon, the worm on the 'Shaft 46 will rotate the worm-gear 44 on the transverse shaft fil und thus rotate the cam 4() and oscillate thelever 3l and thereby periodically reciprocate the plunger 3l.. ln this way, the hexagonal nut-- blanks will be interinlttelltly fed through the hexagonal bore of the member S and brought successivelyinto a position to be clamped by the collet-chuck in the proper position preparatory to the slotting operation. It will perhaps be noticed at this point that while this means will operate verynicely to forwardly feed the nut blanks, it will preferably be supplemented by some contrivancc capable of very accurately determining the forward position of the foremost nut-blank in the train of blanks passino' apertured spindle. In otherwords, since the slotting cutter will have a positively determined advance it will be necessary to accuratcly and positively determine extent of the forward protubcrance of the nut-blank in t-he collet-chuck. This invention therefore contemplates a reciprocating stop which is adapted to come to position in advance of the train of nut-blanks to act as a limit'gage for deter-minimer the foremost position of the forward blank, and then withdraw after the nut-blank has been suitably clamped by the collet-chuck. This mechanism may now be described.

The mooabl. stop for automatically positioning the nut-blanks in the collet-chuck.- Turning now to Fig.. 3,11 casting or bracket 50 is secured to thc'stundard 2 by means of bolts 5l. This bracket furnishes a sliding bearing for the vertically 'reciprocatingr slide-block 52 to which the stop 531s secured by means of bolts'54. This bearing may consist. of a Avertically elongated front reress forreceivilig the block 52, and guide -plates o and 56 for holding this block 50 Block 50 'receives its movement' from a connection arranged' at its upper end, as shown more through 'the Alnexagormlly" clearly by Fig. 5. This connection com prises a floating link 57 which at one end is secured to the upper end of the block 52, as by means of the'pivotI bolt 58, and at its other end is pivotally secured to one arm of the bell crank lever 59, as by means of a pivot bolt 60. This bell crank lever is in turn pivoted to an extension 61 of the bracket 50 by means of a pivot bolt 62 so that as the bell crank lever 59 reciprocates it will raise and lower the link 57 and impart a corresponding movement to the block 52 which carries the movable stop 53.,l The mechanism for oscillating the bell crank 1ever 59 consists of an o'setlink 63 pivoted at one end to the bell crank lever 59 and at its other end to the upper extremity of the long vertical lever 64. This lever 64 is pivoted-'at its lowermost extremity to a pivot pin 65 which is carried by the pillow block 66 on the main-frame or body-casing l of the machine. At the intermediate portion indicated by 67, this lever is crooked so as to pass by the support for a menber which forms a part of the chuck turning mechanism. This lever 64 carries a cam roller 68 (see Figs. 6 and 7) at a point intermediate its length and below the crook 67. and this cam roller rides on the periphery of the cam 69 which is mounted on the shaft 41. As a consequence of this arrangement, when the cam 69 has revolved under the roller until the cut-away portion 70 is reached. the roller 68 will drop down sull portion and cause the lever to swing to the left. on Figs. 4 and 6, with thejresult. that the block carrying the stop 53 will be depressed, thereby moving the stop 53 into the path of the now released nut which is protruding from the end of the collet-chuck, thus knocking this nut downwardly and at the same time forming a stop against which the crowned end of the suer-.eenling nut. may be pushed so as to ac curat'ely position the same. The last mentioned nut-blank is now in a position ready to ha vc its base-portion firmlyy clamped and held in place by the chuck so that the slotter may be brought against the exposed crowned end of the. nut and cut the several radial slots therein which will form the nut into a castcllated nut. This chuck-closing mechanism will now be described.

The mechanism for automatically closing Hm r'lmm.' to |7nm`77 the nutblank.-lt may be prelminarily stated that this mechanism is operated by pulling the sleeve 9 toward the left as shown by Fig. 3. thereby drawing the jaws 10 of the collet-chuck into the chuck-closer 13 and thus contracting the same. ou the base portion of the nut. The mechanism' for doing this comprises a su porting collar 71 which is secured to t e sleeve 14 of the chuck-closer and which has an overhanging annular rim 72 having two diametrically opposite radial slots 73 and 74. Mounted in each slot by means of a suitable pivot pin 75 is the short chuckactuating lever 76.' The foot 77 of this lever is received by a suitable recess provided by the sleeve 9 and a hardened bushing 78 is preferably provided for the purpose of resisting wear when the foot is moved to the left to .close the chuck. In this 'connection it may be stated that occasionally the nut blanks will vary somewhat in size and to prevent injury to the chuck due to an occasional over-.size in a nut-blank, the chuck-closer provides a resilient compensating device. This consists in employing a supplemental actuating .lever 79 which is pivotcd to the pivot pin 75 and which actuates the short lever 76 through the instrumentality of a suitable spring 80 which at one end bears agr '.nst the lever 79 and at the other end bears against a nut 81 mounted on the shaft 82, which is pivoted at one end to the lever 76 and at the other end passes through the lever 79 and terminates in a nut 83, which operates to prevent the spring 80 from separating the levers 79 and 76 unduly. The lever 79 also rovides a bearing boss 84 which is actuate by means of the 'conical end 85 of a sliding sleeve 86 which is positioned by means of t-he rollers 87 and 88 carried by the bifurcated upper. end of the chuck-closer lever 89. From this it. will be perceived that as the lever 89 oscillates. the lever 79 will be actuated and through the spring 80 will in turn operate the lever 76 to open and close the chuck. The lever 89 is pivoted at 90 bo the pillow block 91 which is bolted to the main frame or body casting of the machine. The lower end of the lever 89 carries a cam roller 92 and receies its motion from a cam 93 mounted on the shaft 41.

The nut-blank, by the operation'of the above mentioned parts, will thus have been fed through the spindle of the chuck, forced against the reciprocating stop 53 to determine the extent to which it will protrude; and finally clamped securely in position. It is now ready for the firstI slotting operation, which may be performed by means of the mechanism which will be next described.

The advancing and retreating rotating clotting cation- This Vmechanism embraces a spindle rotatably mounted on a frame adapted to be moved toward and away from the crowned portion of the nut-blank so as to bring the milling cutter or slotter into operative engagement .with the end of auch blank to cut radial slots therein and thereby carry out the process of castellating. This mechanism is so constructed that 'the extent of the advance of the slotting` cutter can be accurately determined and controlled so as to accurately gage the depth of the slots cut in the blank. The details of this sub-combiengagement with a cam, so that by oscillating this lever or arm the casting 99 will.'

threaded to'receive the shank of the tubular 109. The lu I coirxial relation with that of the enlarged I, aperture in the lug 109, and through this aperture passes the-shank of a bolt 111,l

-94 provides a narrow cutting edge counternation are shown in enlarged end elevation by Fig.' 2, in front elevation h Fig. 3,.'and in plan view. by Fig.- 7. The otting cutter part in contour to thatof thel Vslots which it is desired to form in the castellated' nut. This cutter may be an ordinary milling cutter -and is ,mounted on the spindle 95 by means of a suitable nut 96. This spindle 95 is in turn journaled in suitable boxes 97 and 98 which are at the upperfextremties., of corresponding standards uprising from the ,rock-ing frame or casting 99. Interme" diate these two boxes, a pulley 100 is mountcd .on the spindle 95` thereby enabling such spindle to be driven by means of a suitable belt at such speed as is appropriate for the operation of the milling cutter.

The means for advancing the slotting cutter into the work consists, broadly speaking, in pivotally mounting the lower partof the casting 99 and roviding a lever which extends de wnwar ly therefrom into' be oscillated to swing the spindle 95 toward and away' from the work. In carrying out this construction, the base of the casting 99 is provided with an elongated horizontal bore through .which passes the intermediate part 'of a shaft 101. `This shaft 101 is in' turn su ported by bearing boxes .102 and 103, an while such shaft may turn in these bearing boxes for purposes of vertical adjustment, as .will be hereinafter explained, such shaft .1h11 is normally stationaryor nonrevoluble. That is, to say, the casting 99 oscillates for a limited `an' ular distance about theshaft 101 as thougi the latter were a fixed pivot pin. For the urpose of producing this oscillation of tlie casting' 99, a lever 104 has its upper hub 105' rotatably journaled on'the shaft 101., Vand the lower end of this lever carriesa cam roller 106 which is actuated by means of the circular cam 107, as will be readily understood.- The connection between the lever 104 and the oscillating spindle support 99 is made adjustable so that the extent of the advance of the slottin cutter can be accuratel controlled anda Justed. To this end, the ever 104 extends upwardly at its upper end in the form of a lug 108. This lug is located opposite al counterpart 1u 109, which extends from the casting99. .T e lu 109 has a large-diameter aperture whic is internally screwbolt 110 so that' the tip of such bolt may be l'caused to project from this threaded apertgre against an adjacent part of the lug 108 t distance the same from the companion lna'r 108 also has an aperture-nr4 -which shank alsopasses through the bore of the hollow bolt 110 and protrudes through its head, as Shown more clearly by Fig. 2. A lock nut -112 is-threaded on the forward extremity of the bolt 111 and servesto draw the'same tight to hold the lug 108 firmly against the protruding end of the hollow bolt 110, which is carried by the lng 109. Fromthe foregoin it willbe clearly perceived that, by this adjusting mechanism, the relative position between the slotting cutterand the nut blank to be castellated can be readily vand accurately determined.

.While it would be possible to cut. a dinmetrically complete slot in the crowned cnd o-f a nut blank in oneoperation, this would require the use of a milling cutter of an iindue diameter in order to avoid obtaining an undesirable curvature in the bottom of the slot, .and therefore' it is preferred to use a moderate sized milling cutter, as4 shown on the drawings, and to cause this millin cutter to cutradial slots only.; e'. e., semi-diainetrical slots, and to re eat. this operation six times for a hexagonallniit, so as to fully com lete the castellatioii of the blank. This invo ves the setting of the center of the cutting spindle somewhat above the lon itiidinal axis of the collet chuckholding t ie nut blanks. This distance will-Are( nire adjustment, according to the size of the nut blank undergoing formation, and. to that end this invention proposes to form' the shaft 101 in such manner that itsends will extend in the form of offset or eccentric supporting parts 113 and 114. These eccentricportions are journaled in the boxes 102 and 103 and, as will be perceived, a rotation of the shaft 101 the castin 99 is journaled to rise or fall after the ashion of an eccentric, and thus enable the elevation of the slottinb1 cutter 94 to be accurately determined. To enable this rotation of'the shaft 101 to be readily accomplished, an arm 115 is keyed tothe extreility of the shaft end 113, and this arm provides a sector 116 having a' 'plurality of apertures 117. The sector 1.16 may also provide a lug 118 adapted to receive the end of a handle for enabling the arm 115 to be revolved.- The bearing block 103 extends adjacent this sector 116 in the form of a hub 119 which Vhas an aperture capable of being broughtinto coaxial registry with any one of the'apertures 117 to'enable the bolt 120 to be passed through the alinedl apertures and thus hold the arm 115 .securely in the predetermined adjusted position. It will furthermore be noticed, upon turnin to Figs. 1, 2 and 5, that the cutter is radially offset in such a direction with respect to tbe center of thenut-blank that the working teeth of the cutter travel toward the center tof the blank and terminate thereabout. This novel arrangement possesses the very considerable commercial advantage that the itbur is thrown entirely into the center of the blank and accordingly may be very easily removed by some usual subsequent peration auch as drilling or threading or e like.

From the foregoing it will be readilv perceived thatthir clotting mechanism is not only capable of operating easil and ePriciently ut may be adjusted bot i as to the vertica position of the slotter and as .to the limit of advance of the sume. This arran,7 mont is adapted for cutting a single slot the length of a radius in the crowned end of a mit blank and therefore means is provided whereby the chuck may be turned a sixth of a revolution preparatory to each advance of the-slotting cutter so as to cut the six slots required by the operation of castellation. This roulette mechanism for turning the nut blank will now be described.

The automatic atep-by-step rotator for the chuck-The purpose of this device is to intermittently rotate the chuck in which the nut is positioned so as to present different radial portions of the nut-blank successively to the action of the slotting cutter during each advance of the same. In castellating hexagonal blanks. it will obviously require six advances of the .slotting cutter and six angular rotations of 60 each of the nutblank to form slots for enabling a Cotterpin to pass through each of the six sides or' faces of the hexagonal' nut-blank. In other words, this mechanism provides means for rotating the" colletchuck accurately through an' angle 'of 60 during each retreat of the slotting cutter. The mechanism for accomplishing this function is shown in detail ,by- Fig. 6 and in a more general way by Figs.- 1., 3, 4 and 7. Fixed to the spindle 14 of the chuck closer 18 is a roulette wheel 121, the periphery of which provides six equispaced stops 122 which are contrived to precisely determine the six different positions of s '11m-blank. Coperating with this roule 11e wheel 121 is a mechanism for intermittently turning. the same through 60 and also devices for positively-retaining the same against movement during the operation of the slotting cutter. The mechanism for ntermittently rotating this" roulette wheel through' 609 consists of a rocker 123 which is revolubly journaled on the sleeve 14 of the chuck-closer 10 so as to be capable of being oscillated on the same. A pivot-pin 124 passes through an aperture in the other extremity of this rocking support and this pivot-pin also loosely,carries a pawl 125 which is adapted to drop back into the'circu'mferential recesses in the roulette wheel 'and successively engage' the projections on th'efsame' so'as to turn such roulette wheel during'the oscillations of the rocker 123. To enable such rocker to be oscillated in ay pivutally supported at an ,intermediate point by means of the pivot-bolt, 130 which is carried by hlm-h 131, bolted in turn te the 11min fruinc nr hotly casting 1 of the ma chine. A link .1232 passes' through :in apex'M ture 133 in the side wall of the body casting 1 and at its other and is pinrcrl to the actuating lever 13-1 which is pivotally supported at its upper end b v means o1` the pivot-pin 135 carried by the supporting block 136. A cam roller 137 is mounted al an intermediate point ou this lever. us shown more clearly hy Fig. ti.` and coiipciutcs with the cam 138 secured to the shaft 1.1. and having a cam 'groove in n 'sido face thereof. The mode of operation of this snh-coin`oim\-- tion is as follows; Then the shaftI 41 rcvolvcs, thc lgroove of the cam '138 actuales the roller 137 and. at appropriate intervals by the projections 139 in the groove of such cam. this will rock the actuating lever 1311 and through the instrumentnlit)r of the connect-ions formed'by the link 132. the hell crank lever 129 and the second linkl 126. the rocker 123 pivotefl on the `spindle ot' the chuck will be oscillated. thus bringing; ilu. pawl intermittently into action with the roulette wheel. thereby turning the parts :is described. For the purpose of securingr al necessary precision in the. angular rmslon of the nut-blank this invention als: vides a stop forlin-iting the forward :ingulur movement of the r-'iulettc wheel. :nul also u stop for limitingruny return nun-umani thereof. The means` for limitingzhe for ward movement of the. roulette ffui'ipriscs an elongated pnwl 141) which is piwtally supported at its lower cnil liv menus o1. n pivot pin 141 carried by the hlm-k 1112 which is in turn secured to the main mdvv casting 1 of. the machine.

turned at intervals. this invention also pruvides n. releasing mechanism for this pawl. and this releasingr mechanism comprises n link 143 pivoted at one end to the paw] lil-0 and at the other end to the upper extremity infr of a bell crunk lever 144 which is pivol'ally;I

To ennllo the roulette 1o raf engagement with. the catch 122 on the roulette wheel,l thereby releasing-and enabling the latter to be rotated. The means for preventing a backward movement of this roulette wheel is extremely simple andmerely comprises the pawl 150,.the lower end of which ispivotally supported by means -of the pivot-pin 151 carried on the block 142.l

This pawl has an ofi'set portion 152 which is apertured. Through this aperture passes the shank of a bolt 153 which carries a spring hind each in turn and Athus revent a back ward movement 4of the chuc As a matter' of convenience in this'ide-l. scription, the nut-blank -has been discussed;

as consisting of two main portions, i. e., a base-portion and a crowned'portion. By the base-portion is meant the part which in normal use-will more directly recei-vethe ressure when thel nut is screwed'home, and

y the crowned portion is meant theother end or to of the nut, which is usually rovided withA a sli ht dome or so-ca led crown. It is to e understood, however, that this invention is equally applicable to nuts that are -crovimied as well as to those which are not, b'ut the 'term crowned has been used as a matter o f clearness as denotin one end of the nut.-

ithout further elaboration, and-iirthe light of current-knowledge, the foregoing l disclosure will suiliciently su gest and'otheriso wise enable those skilled in t is art torea'dily utilize various interchangeablyavailable and mechanically-2i equiva ent 1 structures which, although perhaps 'calculated to appear more or ess'diii'erent in one or more respects under a casual-inspection, and per haps einboddying *diarra ements of parts somewhat issiinilar tain, if not all of those ileatures, whichfrom the aspect of the prior lai-t constitute essen-f -tial and advanta euscharacteristics of this aving described my invention, what'l claim'as new and desireI to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. 'device of the naturedisclosedcom prisingin combination a device adapted to clamp a utblank"`wh 'support mounted o posite the exposed'p'or- .adapted toY contain blanks, an `instrumen Kmountcd opposite the exposed portion o the.

o posite the exposed portion of said nut:4 'b ank fand-adapted to move toward'a'id rom that hereinshown, would nevertheless appropriate cer"- f prisiiig, "combination a device adapted-to' "clampzfa nut-blunk wh l m ove 'ereby the crowned' portion thereof may be exposed, a hopper adapted to contain blanks, automatic mechanism for successively transferring blanks from said hopper tosaid device, acutter- 'l0 tion of said niit-b ank, a cutter revolubly mounted on saidl cuttersupport and adapted to cut n arrqw-s ots in the endl of said'nutf.. blank while thus clamped, means torpe-f` riodically producing a contact between'said blank and said cutter, land/means for producing a relative angular shibetweu the said blank and said cutter altrperodicin-l tervals.,

' 2. A device. of tbenaturje disclosed'comT v8,0 pr'sing, in combination, a device adapted to s* clamp a nut-'blank whereby'thc crowned por;1 tionl thereof inaybe exposed, a hoppen' tality for successively transferring blanks from saidhopper to said device, a sto against .which said blanks are urged 4b v sai insti'x'imentalty to determine the position of the blanks in said device, a cutter-sup ort nut-blank and adapted to move toward and away from the same, and means vcarried by said support for`successively cutting radial `slots in the exposed portion of said nutblank while thus clnm'ped.v

3. A device, of the nature disclosed comprisingg in combination, a device adapted. to vclamp a init-blank whereby the crowned portion thereof may be exposed, a stop Vada ted to be moved. across the face of said -device to laterally displace a slotted blankand serve a's means for 'forwardly positior'i iiigl a succeeding blankl preparatory-to the clamping thereof, a. -cutter-'support mounted los) 'away,from thev same, a cnt-tercai-'ried by said.; support, means forA periodically moving saidf-4 cutter Eto' contact with thenut-blank while .thus' 'clamped to cut`radial slots in the ex- 110 posed end thereof, and means forturning.

lsaidnut` through?l a predetermined angle Iwhile saidc'nttereis out of contact therewith to present-successive portions of said iiliti-@J bla-nk tothe action-of said cutter.

1lb A deviceloif-4 the nature disclosedconi- -'reciprocating' said bar transverselyto saiddevice and radially across the fn'co thereof t'o displace a 'slotted-blank and serpe asf'a positioningfstop forthesucceeding blanla4 cutter'fsi'ipport mounted opposite .the eil 'h posed Fqrtionioffsaidblanlc' opg adapted.. .oyvard .andaw'ay from tl1e"huine,*iii

uttercnrried' 'by said support, means'for contacting said cutter with said nut-blank 130 while thus clamped to produce'a plurality of equispaced radialxslots in the crowned portion thereof, and afceding-mechanism for supplying said clamping device with nut-blanks.

l'. A device lof the nature disclosed comprising, in combination, a split collet-chuck iaving in its end a hexagonal aperture adapted-to receive a base-portion of a nutblank whereby such blank may be clamped in position with its crowned portion exposed. a stop adapted to restrict the extent to which the crowned end of the lint-blank is exposed. a rotating cii'cular cutter mounted opposite the face of said chuck, and means for intermittently advancing said cutter in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said chuck for cuttin a plurality of radial slotsl in siicb exposer crowned portion.

6. A device of the nature disclosed comrising, in combination, a slit collet-chuck iaving a hexagonal central aperture adapted to receive and clamp the baseortion of a hexagonal nut-blank, means for eedin blanks to the face of said chuck t-lirou the s'aid aperture, means for contracting t e sections of said collet-chuck to clam said nut-blank a sto adapted to restrict t e ex tent to which tiie crowned end of the. rnutblank is exposed.l and a cutter positioned opposite the exposed crowned portion of said nut-blank adapted to cut radial slots in the face thereof.

7. A device of the nature disclosed comprising, in combination, a device for clamping a mit-blank whereby the crowned portion thereofmay be exposedi a support# pivotally mounted below said evice, a cutter rotatably mounted on said device opposite the exposed portion of` said nut-blank, an arm for swinging said support toward and away from said device, a stop adapted to momentarily interpose between the cutter and nut-blank to determine the position of tbe latter, and means tir actuating said arm to cause the cutter o be brought into contact with such portion to cut narrow slots therein while said blank is thus clamped.

8. A device of the nature disclosed comprising, in combination a device4 adapted to c lainp a nut-blank whereby the crowned portion thereof may be exposed, a reciprocatin stop adapted to move toward said nut-b ank to dis lace the same afterhaving been slotted entfI also adapted to move momentarily in front of the succeeding nutblank to restrict the extent to which the crowned end thereof is exposed, a cuttersupport pivotally mounted opposite the exposed portion of said nut-blank to enable the saine to bc oscillated toward and away from s id nut-blank, a cutter having a narrow c pngated cutting-edge supported by. said cutter-support and adapted to be brought into and out of contact with said nut-blank while thus clamped during the oscillations of said cutter-siip ort, and means for adjustably varying t c extent of approach between the ciitler and the blank.

t). A device of the nature disclosed conim'ising, in combination, a. device adapted to clamp a nut-blank whereby the crowned portion thereof may be exposed, a reciprocating stop adapted to move toward said nut-blank to displace the saine after having been slotted and alm'adaptcd to move momentarily in front ot' the succeeding nut-blank to restrict theextent lo which the crowned end tliereofjs exposed, a cutter-sup )ort pivotally mounted opposite the exposed portion of said nut-blanlt and adapted to swing toward and away from the same, an arm for actuating said cutter-support, adj ustin r means intervcning'between said arm an said support, and u. circular cutter rcvolubly mounted on said cutter-support and adapted .to cut narrow Slots in said nut-blank while thus clamped.

10. A device 0f the nature disclosed coinprising, in combination, a rotatable 'tubular member terminating iii a circular head"liav ing in its face a conical scat, a device having an elongated shank extending into the bore of said member and havin an enlarged end recessed to receive a nut-Tilank, means for translating said device to force its end into said conical seat to clamp a nut-blank whereby the crowned portion thereof may be exposedz a stop adapted to restrict the extent to which the crowned end of the ni1t-blank is exposed, a cutteresupport mounted opposite the exposed portion of said nut-blank and adapted to be moved toward and away from the same, and a cutter havinfr a narrow elongated cuttingedge supported by said cuttersupport and adapted to be brouwht into and out of contact with said nutilanlc while thus clamped during oscillations of said cutter-support.

11. A device of the nature disclosed comprising, in combination, a rotatable tubular member terminating in a circular head having in its face a conical seat, a device having an elongated shank extending into the bore of said member and havino' an enlarged ond recessed to receive a. nutflilanlt, ine-ans for translating said device to force its end into said conical seat to clamp the base-portion of a nut-blank whereby the crownedl ortion thereof may be exposed, a cutter-s ipport mounted opposite the exposed portion of said nut-blank and adapted to be moved toward and away from the saine, a reeiprocating stop ada ted to move toward said nutblank to disp ace the same after having been 'slotted and also adapted to move momentarily in front of the succeedin init-blank to restrict the extent to which tie crowned ille .. er telescopin end thereof is exposed, a circular cutter revolubly mounted on said cutter-support and adapted to be bro ht into and out of contact with'the nut-b ank while thus clamped during' the oscillations of said cutter-sup-4 port to cut narrow slots in said blank, and means acting at the conclusion of each slotcutting operation to produce a relative displacement between the blank and cutter whereby the slots may be diversely arranged in the blank.

12. A device of the nature disclosed comprising, in combination, a rotatabletubular member terminating in a circular head having in its face a conical seat, a. device having an elongated shank extending into the bore of said member and havin an enlarged end recessed to receive a nutlank, means for translating said device to force its end into said conical seat, a cutter-support mounted opposite the exposed portion of said nutb ank and adapted to move toward and away from the same, a cutter carried by said support and adapted to cut radial slots in thc ex osed ortlon of said nut-blank while thus c ampe 'during the forward advance of said support, a stop adapted to momentaril interpose between the cutter and nutblan to determine the position of the latter, and means directly connected with said tubular membeLlLQ rotate the same for producing a relative angular shift between said blank and cutter at periodic intervals.

13. A device of the nature disclosed comprising, in combination, a forward bearing standard a rear bearing standard, an elongated 'tube bearing at one end in the rear standard and extending forwardly through an a erture in the forward standard, a. membr 'aring a tubular shank telescoping the forward end of said tube and terminatin in its forward end in a plurality of clamping aws forming a chuck, a third tubular memsaid shank and journaled in said forwar standard and terminating in a. head formin a chuck-closer for said chuck, means or translating said chuck relatively to both said third memberand said tube to contract the jaws thereof, means for feedin a train of nut-blanks throu h the bore o said tube, whereby said blan s may be successively clamped by said chuck, means for intermittent-ly rotating said chuck to successively brin the nut-blanks into different positions, an means 'periodically acting on a clamped nut-blank to castellate the same.

14. A device of the nature disclosed comprising, in combination, a revolubly mounted chuck having a central bore and ada ted to clamp the base-portion of a nutlank whereby the crowned portion thereof may be exposed, a hopper for nutblanksJ-a'ranged at the rear end of said chuck, a. plunger effective to periodically transfer blanks from saidhopper to the bore of said4 chuck, a reci rocating stop adapted'to move toward said nut-blank to discplaee the same after having been slotted an also adapted to move momentarily in front of the succeeding nut blank to restrict the extent to which the crowned end thereof is exposed, a cutter-supportmounted opposite the exposed portion of said nutb ank and adapted to movetoward and away from the same, a cutter carriedl'b said support and adapted to be perio ically moved into contact with such Ablank while thus clamped to cut radial slots 'in the face thereof, and means for rotating said chuck through'predetermined angular distances to enable the slots to be d-iierently ositioned.

15. A device of the nature dlsc osed corn- Erising, in combination, a. s )lit collet-chuck -aving a hexagonal central re, means for feeding hexagonal nut-blanks through said bore w ereby the crowned portions ofthe nutblanks 4ma be successively projected from the face o said collet-chuck, a reciprocatin stop adapted to move toward said nut-blan to displace the same after having been slotted and also adapted to move momentarily in front. of the succcedinr nut-blank to restrict the extent to which t e crowned end thereof is ex osed, means for contracting the sections o said collet-chuck to clamp the base-portions of the nut-blanks, a cuttersupport mounted opposite the exposed portion of said nut-blank and adapted tomove toward and away from the same, and means carried by said support for cutting slots in the crowned ortion of said nut-blank while thus clamped).

16. A device of the nature disclosed comprising in combination, a s lit collet-chuck aving a hexagonal central ore, means for feeding hexagonal nut-blanks through said bore whereby .the crowned portions of the nut-blanks may be successively projectedV from the face of said collet-chuck, means for contractin the sections of said collet-chuck to clamp t e base-portions of the nut-blanks and means for cutting slots in the crowne portions of 4said nut-blanks while thus clamped.

17. A device of the nature disclosed comprising in combination, a s lit collet-chuck iaving a hexagonal central ore, means for feeding hexagonal nut-blanks through said bore whereby the crownedi' ortions-of the nut-blank may be successivel projected contract-in the sectinsdof said. colletfchuck toiclamp t ie basel-portionsf the nut-blanks, a cutter-support mounted op osite the exposed'port-ion of said nut-blau. and adapted to move towdrd and away from the same,

means carried by said su port forcut-tin slots in the crowned portion of said nutblanks while thus clamped, and a mecha/- nism constructe d"' to intermittently produce i means for cutting slots in the crowned poran angular shift of 60 between the successive operations of the latter.

18.; A device of the nature disclosed coniprising in combination, a device for clamping the base-portion'of a nut-blank wherebv the crowned portion thereof may be ex osed,

a Acutter positioned opposite the expose tion of said nut-blank, a stop adapte to momentarily -inter )ose between the cutter and nut-.blank to etermine the osition of Vthe lattei', means for periodical y movin7 said cutter into contact with the nut-blaihr to cut radial slots in the 4ex nosed end thereof, and means for turning sai nut blank while said cutter is out of contact therewith to present successive portions of said nut-blank while thus clamped to the action of said cutter.

1t).v A device of the nature disclosed coniprising in combination, an automatic device adapted to be contracted to clamp the baseportion of a nut-blank whereby the crowned portion thereof may be exposed, a. recipro eatin stop adapted to imove toward said nut-b ank to dis lace the same after having been slotted an also, 'adapted to move momentarily in front of the succeeding nutblank to restrict the extent to which the crowned end thereof is exposed, and a cutter adapted to be'periodically brought into contact with the exposed portion of said nutblank while thus clamped to eut equispaced angular slots therein.

20. A device of/the nature disclosed comprising in combi/nation, a chuck adapted to clamp the base-portion of a nut-blank whereby the crowned ortion thereof ma be exposed, a putter positioned o posite suc exposed crowned rtion and a apted to be periodically'oscil ated in a txed path into contact with such blank while thus clamped to cut a radial slot in the face thereof, and a reciprocating stop ada ted to move toward said nut-blan vto disp ace the same after having dicen slotted 'and also adapted to 'move momentarily in front of the succeeding mit-blank to restrict the extent to which the crowned end thereof is exposed.

2l. A device of the nature disclosed com prising in combination, a split collet-chuck i l aving a hexagonal central bore. means for feeding hexagonal nutblanks through said bore whereby the crowned portions cf nutblaiiks mar be successivlv projected from the face of said collet-chuck, means for contracting the sections of said collet-chuck to clamp the liase-portions of the init-blanks, a

lreciprocating stop adapted to mme toward saidnut-blnnk to displace the same after liavingbeen slotted and also adapted to move momentarily in. front of the succeeding nut-blank to restrict the extent to which the crowned end thereof is exposed, and

l ing the base-portion of a nut-blank whereby the crowned portion thereof may be c,\'- posed, a cutter having a narrow elongated cutting-edge arranged opposite the exp-sed portion of said blank.l a 'stop adapted to inonientarilv interposta between the cutter and nut-blank to determine the position of thc latter, and means for bringing said cutter into Contact with the exposed portion of said iiut-lilank while thus clamped to produce clots in the ein] thereof. u

A device of the nature disclosed coniprising in combination, a device adapted to clamp the base-portion of a nut-blank whereby the crowned portion thereof may be exposed, a circular cutter rotatably mounted opposite the exposed portion of said nut-blank, a reciprocating stop ada ited to move toward said nut-blank to dispiace the same after having been slotted and also adapted to move momentarily in front of the succeeding nut-blank to restrict the extent to which the crowned end thereof is exposed, and means fo." advancing said rotatin cutter into contact with said blank while thus clamped to cut slots therein and for withdrawing said cutter from said blank to enable the latter to be replaced.

2l. .it device of the nature disclosed comrising in combination, a split collet-chuck iaving in its end a hexagonal a )erture adapted to receive the base-portion o a nutblank whereby such blank may'be securely clamped in osition with its crowned portion expose means constructed to autoriiaticall shift said chuck in nn axial direction to c amp and release the blanks, a reciprocating stop ada )ted to move toward said nut-blank to dis llace the 'saine after having been slotted an( also ,adapted to move inomentarily in front of the succeeding nutblank to 'restrict the extent. to which thc crowned end thereof is ex csed, a cuttersupport mounted op osite t :e exposed portion of said nut-blau c and adapted to move' toward and away from the saine, and a cutter carried by said support and adapted tov having been slotted and also adapted to move momentarily in front of the succeeding nut-blank to restrict the extent to which the crowned end thereof is expose'l, a cutter-support mounted opposite the exposed portion of said nut-blank 'and adapted to more toward and away fromthe same, a cutter carried by said'support, mydhs Vfor periodically moving said cutter 'uiuc contact with the nut-blank while thus clam' ed to cut radial slots in the exposed end t iereof, and means for turnin said .nut through a predetermined angle w iile said cutter is out of contact therewith to presen'successive portions of said nut-blank to the action of said cutter, and feedn -mechanism for su plying said clampin mfevice with nut-blanizs through said centra aperture.

` Q6. A device of thc nature disclosed comprising in' combination, a device adapted to clamp the base-portion of anut-blank whereby the crowned portion thereof may be exposed, a reciprocatinnr stop adapted to move toward said nut-bland( to dis lace th'e same after having beenslotted an .also adapted to move momentarily in front of the succeeding nut-blank to restrict .the extent toI which the crowncdend thereof is exposed, a cutter-suliort mounted op osite the exposed portion 0 u nutfblunk an adapted to move toward and away from .the same, a cutter carried "by said support and ada )ted to be brought afrainst the exposed end o said nutblank while thus clamped to cut radial slots therein, means for turning the clamping device at interrals through predetermined y angles to enable said cutter to form differently positioned slots in said nut-blank, and

a feeding-mechanism for supplying said clamping-dei'ice with nut-blanks.

n2'?. A mechanism of the nature disclosed combining, means for holding a nut-blank with one end exposed, slot-cutting means for propelling a.cutting edge radially inward toward and terminating adjacent the center of the blank to throw the resultant bur in the center thereof, and means for intermittently pro'ducino a relative angular shift between said blan r and said slot-cutting means to enable the latter to cut a plurality of slots in the end of said blank.

28. A mechanism of the nature disclosed combining, means for holding.a nut-blank with one end ex osed, a rotary cutter posit-ioned at one si e ofthe center of said nutblank, means for rotating said cutter in a direction such that its cuttin teeth move radially inward toward an terminate adjacent the center of t-he blank whereby the resultant bur will be located adjacent the center, and means for intermittently producin' a relative angular shift between said nut-b ank' and said cutter to enable the latter to cut a plurality of radial slots in said blank.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in l`the presence of two' witnesses.

EMILE C. BOERNER. 

